Friday, February 15, 2013

Kid-friendly in the city: Some tips for family fun in Atlanta, GA

The Atlanta Convention and Visitor's Bureau organized a blogger meet-and-greet last weekend and I was lucky enough to score an invite for my little family of three. We browsed information on and conversed with representatives of various Atlanta attractions. I thought I already knew all there was to know about Atlanta's fun spots, but even I learned a new trick or two.

The new international terminal welcomes the entire world to the ATL

Visiting Atlanta with children? What to do:

The Georgia Aquarium - numerous exhibits through several galleries and an exciting dolphin show. Be sure to check their specials and events via the website for deals and dates.

Imagine It! Children's Museum - Winter/Spring 2013 special exhibit is "Body Carnival: The Science and Fun of Being You". The museum offers various ticket deals as well as special events and summer camps.

Legoland Discovery Center - We took Amelia and out-of-town family to Legoland at Phipps this summer to escape the heat. Legoland offers several 4D movie experiences, a couple cute rides, and all the Lego building you can handle! Not to mention an entire Atlanta cityscape built from... what else? Legos!

Atlanta Braves - I admit, we have yet to take Amelia to a game; I thought she would be bored. My conversations with the Braves folks changed my mind and I can't wait to take her soon! Check out Braves Kids, where you can get special VIP access to child-friendly activities (like running the bases after Sunday games!), free admission to the Braves Hall of Fame, a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich, a letter from a Braves player, and more. And at Turner Field, you can also let the kids release some energy in the Taco Mac Family Zone. And after every Friday home game? Fireworks!

Atlanta History Center - Includes one of the largest Civil War exhibitions in the country. This is another attraction we have yet to visit. While most of the permanent exhibits would be better for older children studying history in school, there are a few options for children Amelia's age. I want to bring her in April for "Sheep to Shawl", a full day of engaging activities at Smith Family Farm, which includes music and storytelling as well as demonstrations of various period crafts.

Stone Mountain - A bit of a drive from the city, but well worth it. Stone Mountain has just about everything for all-day family adventures. In the spring and summer, enjoy Geyser Towers and the laser show. In the winter, Snow Mountain snow tubing is so much fun! Check out the Stone Mountain event schedule for all the info - I could not possibly list everything here!

But wait... there's more! Atlanta also has The World of Coca-Cola, The Center for Puppetry Arts, The Atlanta Botanical Garden, Zoo Atlanta, and the Inside CNN Studio Tour. You could entertain the entire family in Atlanta for a week.

Big cities may not be a first thought for families looking to travel, but I highly recommend visiting Atlanta with children. We have a perfect mix of city culture and good old southern hospitality!